Sunday, March 12, 2017

Australia: Trip Report

The following is a cumulative summary of all species seen in Australia during a 19 day birding trip from September 3-21, 2016. Each species is listed once, in more-or-less the order they were detected, by key locations. The trip predominantly covered southeast Australia (Brisbane south to Melbourne, including west to Canberra), including a pelagic trip out of Sydney. All bird records are on file with eBird, as are numerous photos which are archived with the Macaulay Library. Species are listed in taxonomic order, within each day/location combination, unless otherwise noted.

September 3, 2016

Brisbane International Airport - not really a key destination, but it was the site of my first two lifers for the trip: Noisy Miner and Australian Magpie.

Boondall Wetlands Reserve - nothing but lifers here: Pied Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Australian Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Whistling Kite, Crested Pigeon, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Mangrove Gerygone, Gray Butcherbird, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Rufous Whistler, Rufous Fantail, Gray Fantail, Leaden Flycatcher, Torresian Crow, Mistletoebird.

Nudgee Beach Reserve - White-faced Heron, Masked Lapwing, Bar-shouldered Dove, Torresian Kingfisher, White-breasted Woodswallow, Pied Butcherbird.

Brisbane to Lamington National Park (birds not in taxonomic order) - Plumed Whistling-Duck, Maned Duck,White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Sacred Kingfisher, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Magpie-Lark, Straw-necked Ibis, Intermediate Egret, Laughing Kookaburra, Willie-Wagtail, Common Bronzewing.

Lamington National Park - Australian Brushturkey, Crimson Rosella, Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairywren, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Yellow Robin, Welcome Swallow, Red-browed Firetail.

Total species for the day = 50
Total lifers for the day = 50

Torresian Crow

Plumed Whistling-Duck

Maned Duck

Eastern Rosella

Satin Bowerbird

Lewin's Honeyeater

White-browed Scrubwren

Eastern Yellow Robin

September 4, 2016

Lamington National Park - White-headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Australian King-Parrot, Green Catbird, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Australian Logrunner, Eastern Whipbird, Pied Currawong, Gray Shrikethrush, Golden Whistler, Paradise Riflebird, Rose Robin, White-throated Treecreeper, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Bassian Thrush.

Total species for the day = 30
Total lifers for the day = 16

Brown Cuckoo-Dove

Regent Bowerbird

Australian Logrunner

Australian Brushturkey

Australian King-Parrot

Pied Currawong

Red-browned Firetail

September 5, 2016

Lamington National Park - Topknot Pigeon, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, White-naped Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote.

DJ Smith Park - Spotted Dover, Noisy Friarbird

Canungra to Goondiwindi (birds not in taxonomic order) - Australian Kestrel, Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Australasian Grebe, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australasian Darter, Great Egret, Dusky Moorhen, Long-billed Corella, Australian Reed-Warbler, Australian Kite, Spotted Harrier, Australian Hobby, Variegated Fairywren, Fuscous Honeyeater, Speckled Warbler, Little Corella, Apostlebird, Common Myna, Emu, Cockatiel, Turquoise Parrot, Red-rumped Parrot.

Total species for the day = 62
Total lifers for the day = 29

Emu

September 6, 2016

Goondiwindi Botanical Gardens - Cattle Egret, Peaceful Dove, Pale-headed Rosella, White-plumed Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Weebill, Australian Raven, Diamond Firetail, Double-barred Finch.

Goondiwindi to Bourke (birds not in taxonomic order) - Fairy Martin, European Starling, Yellow-throated Miner, Black Kite, Rock Pigeon, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Black-faced Woodswallow, Red-winged Parrot, Rufous Songlark, White-winged Chough, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, House Sparrow, Australian Ringneck, Southern Whiteface, Rufous Night-Heron, Eurasian Blackbird.

Total species for the day = 63
Total lifers for the day = 22

Little Corella

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Black Kite

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo

September 7, 2016

Gundabooka National Park - Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Mulga Parrot, Splendid Fairywren, White-fronted Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater, Black Honeyeater, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Red-capped Robin, Hooded Robin.

Gundabooka National Park to Rylstone (birds not in taxonomic order) - Wedge-tailed Eagle, Little Raven, Pink Cockatoo, Gray-crowned Babbler, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Eurasian Coot, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Western Gerygone.

Total species for the day = 43
Total lifers for the day = 16

Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

Splendid Fairywren

Red-capped Robin

Pink Cockatoo

September 8, 2016

Capertee Valley (birds not in taxonomic order)  - Black-chinned Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler, Dusky Woodswallow, Crested Shrike-Tit, Olive-backed Oriole, Eastern Rosella, Brown Treecreeper, Red Wattlebird, Tree Martin, Brown Falcon, Jacky-Winter, Australian Bushlark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Australasian Pipit, Zebra Finch, New Holland Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Yellow Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, White-bellied Cuckooshrike.

Total species for the day = 58
Total lifers for the day = 20

Eastern Rosella

Brown Treecreeper

Dusky Woodswallow

Brown Falcon

Australasian Pipit

September 9, 2016

Capertee Valley (birds not in taxonomic order) - Plum-headed Finch, Little Lorikeet, Spotted Pardalote, Silver-eye.

Capertee Valley to Sydney (birds not in taxonomic order) - Australian Shoveler, Silver Gull.

Total species for the day = 51
Total lifers for the day = 5

Plum-headed Finch

September 10, 2016

Royal National Park (birds not in taxonomic order): Today was supposed to be the pelagic trip, but the trip was postponed until September 11 due to weather. Thankfully, Steve Anyon-Smith was able to flip his schedule (as he was also a guide on the pelagic) and take me out for the day. Australasian Figbird (the best lifers are the ones you get while ordering morning coffee), Australasian Swamphen, Wonga Pigeon, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Azure Kingfisher, Superb Lyrebird, Little Wattlebird, Black-browed Albatross, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Fluttering Shearwater, Australasian Gannet, Great Cormorant, Great Crested Tern, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Rockwarbler, Beautiful Firetail.

Nearby areas around Royal National Park (birds not in taxonomic order) - Gray Teal, Powerful Owl, Pied Oystercatcher, Swamp Harrier, Kelp Gull, Black Swan, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Bar-tailed Godwit.

Total species for the day = 74
Total lifers for the day = 23

September 11, 2016

Pelagic (Sydney) - Yellow-nosed Albatross, Buller's Albatross, Salvin's Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Northern Giant-Petrel, Providence Petrel, Fairy Prion, Hutton's Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, White-faced Storm-Petrel, Brown Skua, Sooty Oystercatcher.

Total species for the day = 21
Total lifers for the day = 12

Yellow-nosed Albatross

Buller's Albatross

Black-browed Albatross

Wandering Albatross

Great-winged Petrel

Fairy Prion

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

September 12, 2016

Malacoota area (birds not in taxonomic order) - White-cheeked Honeyeater, Little Egret, Gray Goshawk, Far Eastern Curlew, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Caspian Tern.

Total species for the day = 48
Total lifers for the day = 3

Silver Gull

Pied Oystercatcher

September 13, 2016

Mallacoota to Melbourne (birds not in taxonomic order) - Mallard, Southern Emuwren, Hooded Plover, Scarlet Myzomela, Red-capped Plover, Red-necked Stint.

Total species for the day = 49
Total lifers for the day = 5

Scarlet Myzomela

September 14, 2016 (all day guided tour with Simon Starr of Firetail Birdwatching Tours)

Melbourne area - Tawny Frogmouth

Brisbane Range National Park (birds not in taxonomic order) - White-eared Honeyeater, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Scarlet Robin, Brown Goshawk, Eurasian Skylark.

Serendip Sanctuary - Magpie Goose, Cape Barren Goose, Little Eagle, Swift Parrot, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

Avalon Beach - Pied Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Australian Fairy Tern, White-fronted Chat, Striated Fieldwren, Little Grassbird, European Goldfinch.

Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) - Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, Hoary-headed Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Brolga, Whiskered Tern.

Lakeland Wetlands - Black-fronted Dotterel, Latham's Snipe.

Melbourne area - Musk Lorikeet

Total species for the day = 96
Total lifers for the day = 24

Cape Barren Goose

September 15, 2016

Melbourne to Chiltern (birds not in taxonomic order) - Bell Miner, Flame Robin, Pacific Heron.

Chiltern National Park - Pink-eared Duck, Brown-headed Honeyeater.

Total species for the day = 65
Total lifers for the day = 5

Black-faced Cuckooshrike

Pacific Heron

Pink-eared Duck

September 16, 2016

Chiltern National Park (birds not in taxonomic order) - Gang-gang Cockatoo, Varied Sittella, White-eyed Duck.

Total species for the day = 48
Total lifers for the day = 3

September 17, 2016

Jerrabomberra Wetlands - Buff-banded Rail.

Bungendore - Australian Shelduck.

Total species for the day = 53
Total lifers for the day = 2

Australian Shelduck

September 18, 2016 - today was supposed to be a pelagic out of Port Stephens, but the trip was cancelled due to weather. This cancellation may have been  a blessing in disguise, as there few life birds that I would likely get on this pelagic, but the alternate plan was very productive and not part of my trip plans. A pleasant surprise one might say.

Karuah - Striated Heron, Brahminy Kite.

Cattai Wetlands - Pacific Baza, Comb-crested Jacana, Pacific Emerald Dove, Red-backed Fairywren, Spangled Drongo, Tawny Grassbird.

Ellenborough Reserve - Black-faced Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Forest Raven.

Total species for the day = 76
Total lifers for the day = 11


Azure Kingfisher


Red-backed Fairywren


Tawny Grassbird


Pacific Emerald Dove

September 19, 2016 (back in Brisbane)

Tinchi Tamba Wetlands - Gull-billed Tern, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet,

Murumba Downs - Cotton Pygmy-Goose

North Lakes - Chestnut-breasted Munia

Total species for the day = 45
Total lifers for the day = 4

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Chesnut-breasted Munia

September 20, 2016 (clean-up day...chasing whatever I can get on last full day)

Goldscrubs Lane - Square-tailed Kite, Varied Triller

Kumbartcho Sancturary - Australian Owlet-Nightjar, Noisy Pitta, Little Cuckooshrike.

D'Aquilar National Park - Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Pale-yellow Robin, Russet-tailed Thrush.

Mount Glorious - Forest Kingfisher.

Eatons Crossing Road and Albion Road - Channel-billed Cuckoo.

Bay Avenue and Main Terrace Park - Osprey.

Deception Bay - Whimbrel, Great Knot, Gray-tailed Tattler, Common Greenshank.

Total species for the day = 97
Total lifers for the day = 12

Australian Owlet-Nightjar

Noisy Pitta

Wompoo Fruit-Dove

Great Knot

September 21, 2016

Sandy Camp Road Wetlands - Brown Quail

Total species for the day = 38
Total lifers for the day = 1

Trip Summary
Total species for the trip = 288
Total lifers for the trip = 263
Total eBird checklists = 162
Total distance driven = 6,274 kms
Total birding days = 19

Thanks to the many individuals that I met along the way and pointed me in the direction of good birds, great food, and excellent coffee and baked goods. Also a huge thanks to those who provided identification tips (especially on the Sydney pelagic), and to eBird Regional Coordinators who caught a couple of data entry errors. Until next time, happy birding wherever you may be.